About

UGC Hosts Non-Profit Leadership Institute

March 05, 2013

Community
Foundation, Union Graduate College Team Up to Present

Non-Profit
Leadership Development Institute

The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region and
Union Graduate College have joined efforts to present the Non-Profit Leadership
Development Institute, a program in which non-profit leaders meet monthly to
explore common issues, share ideas and develop organizational partnerships.

�When you join a non-profit staff or board, there�s a great deal
of passion,� said Laura Schweitzer, President, Union Graduate College. �The
Leadership Development Institute helps build the management skills to accompany
that passion.�

The creation of the Non-Profit Leadership Development Institute
emerged during the development of UnionGraduate
College�s Robb Center for Principled Leadership.

�We interviewed local philanthropists and leaders and asked them
what kind of programming they thought was needed,� said Schweitzer. �We heard
clearly that there was a need for developing the management capacity of
nonprofit leaders.�

Each year, the Non-Profit Leadership Development Institute
brings together 20-30 leaders from a single industry. The 2013 Leadership
Development Institute class comprises leaders from arts organizations including:

�Empire State Youth Orchestra

�The Linda�WAMC�s Performing Arts Studio

�Proctors

�Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci)

�Capital Repertory Theatre

�Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

�This has been a true partnership with the Community
Foundation,� continued Schweitzer. �Because of their relationships with
nonprofits, the Community Foundation has been able to recommend participants,
and help identify projects and goals.�

�Supporting this program was a natural fit for the Community
Foundation,� said Karen Bilowith, President and CEO, the Community Foundation
for the Greater Capital Region. �In addition to ensuring the needs of our
community are met and serving as a philanthropic partner to our region�s
donors, we are committed to strengthening our area�s non-profit organizations.
Union Graduate College and the Non-Profit Leadership Development Institute are
building a stronger, better community by helping our non-profit leaders work
together.�

�Over the course of the program, participants identify their
mission, services and audiences, and explore the entire process of staffing,
promoting, producing and evaluating arts events,� said Mel Chudzik, Dean
Emeritus, Union Graduate College. �The feedback we�ve received is that this
process helps them understand their sister organizations and break down
barriers to communication and collaboration. In many cases, they hadn�t
understood the ways in which they could work together, and this program helps
them with that process.�

�Pulling professionals together in this way is very beneficial,�
said 2013 participant Sara Torrey, Development and Marketing Specialist for the
Empire State Youth Orchestra. �Larger organizations can help smaller
organizations, smaller organizations can bring a new mindset to larger ones.
The fact that it�s all done in the spirit of collaboration means that we�re
able to get to know our compatriots in the industry and share concerns and
successes. Because of this program, I�m having conversations now that I
wouldn�t have had a year ago.�

�The participants in this program are very hardworking, very
busy and often under-resourced people,� said Schweitzer. �They see the ability
to take time each month to meet and learn as a gift. When they leave sessions,
they thank us. We�re very grateful to the Community Foundation and our other
partners for the ability to offer this program. We�re doing good work, and our
partnership with the Community Foundation has made that possible.�

Photo above: Members of the 2013 Non-Profit Leadership
Development Institute at Union Graduate College.